When was that when he came to you?
About 4 months ago when I got Cable TV back on a special offer. He had to install the box.Well, he might not have heard about Heathkit then seeing as they ceased trading in 1992, he was only a small child back then.
Why do you keep bringing up Heathkit? The vast majority of my stuff on display is Tektronix and he STILL had no fucking clue.No reason really apart from maybe Heathkit was more a consumer name than Tektronix would have been. My sons are in their late 30's now and even though I have plenty of well known (to us) names in my lab, none of my sons would have a clue what I was talking about if I mentioned their name. On the other hand however, if I mention Samsug, Apple, LG, Panasonic or Sony then they would have some idea as they are consumer type names.
When was that when he came to you?
About 4 months ago when I got Cable TV back on a special offer. He had to install the box.Well, he might not have heard about Heathkit then seeing as they ceased trading in 1992, he was only a small child back then.
Why do you keep bringing up Heathkit? The vast majority of my stuff on display is Tektronix and he STILL had no fucking clue.No reason really apart from maybe Heathkit was more a consumer name than Tektronix would have been. My sons are in their late 30's now and even though I have plenty of well known (to us) names in my lab, none of my sons would have a clue what I was talking about if I mentioned their name. On the other hand however, if I mention Samsug, Apple, LG, Panasonic or Sony then they would have some idea as they are consumer type names.
I edited my post after you posted this. It wasn't the brand. He did NOT know what an OSCILLOSCOPE was and for someone working as a cable installer tech that is just freaking sad.
The world is full of ignorants.
The world is full of ignorants.
We are becoming a society of smart phone dummies.
The world is full of ignorants.We are becoming a society of smart phone dummies.You mean, the smart part is changing to the phone?
The world is full of ignorants.
We are becoming a society of smart phone dummies.
You mean, the smart part is changing to the phone?
I edited my post after you posted this. It wasn't the brand. He did NOT know what an OSCILLOSCOPE was and for someone working as a cable installer tech that is just freaking sad.
So I found a new bunny hole to jump into...a natural extension of electronics tinkering is wanting to be able to make small parts. And my local used tool guy had juuuust what I needed...
Unimat SL 1000, basically brand new. Missing some accessories (notably, the milling table). I need to get more lathe tools for sure as well, as it only came with one of unknown provenance.
I would probably kill for one of those. Some of the cheap Chinese mini-lathes are OK, but most are not a patch, quality-wise, on the old British and American hobby/model-engineering lathes. I just ain't got the room for anything bigger...
Yeah, I've got the same problem. Eventually I will have a proper machine shop, but that will be a next house problem for sure. In the meantime, this will allow me to dip my toes into making small parts for projects.
I do need to track down some of the accessories this Unimat is missing. I'd like to get a milling table+vise (though all the recommendations I see is to get a second Unimat if you want to use both functions...to save time realigning when swapping), thread cutter, and a better selection of tools and end mills.
Todays stupid eBay valuation, I think the seller has been at the magic mushrooms again
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154058876130
They also have a scope for sale for £48401.00, OBO. Yes, that decimal point is in the correct place
Todays stupid eBay valuation, I think the seller has been at the magic mushrooms again
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154058876130
They also have a scope for sale for £48401.00, OBO. Yes, that decimal point is in the correct placeWell it is a 4 channel, 8GHz, 10 bit Mixed signal 'scope........
The seller is a TE rental company Their target market is professional users not us. You can find the odd bargain amonst their listings but a distinct paucity of phots and descriptions does not help.
Well less than £200 for a known working HP diode power sensor is pretty good.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153164710761?
Tek 7633 with timebase and two dual trace plug-ins. Current high bid is 5.50EUR
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154492129422 -- Located in Germany. I asked the seller (in German) about postage to the UK but have not had a reply.
Untested, no guarantee, no returns.
Todays stupid eBay valuation, I think the seller has been at the magic mushrooms again
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154058876130
They also have a scope for sale for £48401.00, OBO. Yes, that decimal point is in the correct placeWell it is a 4 channel, 8GHz, 10 bit Mixed signal 'scope........
The seller is a TE rental company Their target market is professional users not us. You can find the odd bargain amonst their listings but a distinct paucity of phots and descriptions does not help.
[...]
And that's why *I* am not inclined to shotgun caps in old test gear. YMMV.
[...]
Agree.
Why only shotgun the caps, if you are of that ilk? You'd have to shotgun every component to be really sure nothing has drifted... and that essentially means... buying new equipment!
Seems a better plan to verify that the old equipment lives up to its specs... and only start replacing stuff when it doesn't.
Yeah, the latter is the approach I take. When I get something old but new to me I run it through the manufacturer's stated verification procedure* and if that's good and there aren't (from visual inspection) any obvious time-bombs, bulging electrolytics, RIFAs, etc., then I leave well alone.
I'm quite happy to follow Med et al's shotgunning as a spectator sport, but I wouldn't want to participate.
* If there is a written verification procedure. Being mostly an HP fanboy means that there is always one for HP kit and they're usually easy to reproduce, although sometimes you have to be a little creative if you haven't got all the test gear called out in the verification procedure.
Nice score, 0culus.
Meanwhile, on the bench...
mnem
So I found a new bunny hole to jump into...a natural extension of electronics tinkering is wanting to be able to make small parts. And my local used tool guy had juuuust what I needed...
Unimat SL 1000, basically brand new. Missing some accessories (notably, the milling table). I need to get more lathe tools for sure as well, as it only came with one of unknown provenance.
Nice score, 0culus.
Meanwhile, on the bench...
mnem
That is either a REALLY tiny engine, or a friggin' HUGE battery!! Is it an early attempt at an EV?
-Pat
The last cable guy I had here had no clue as what my stuff was.
Years ago one of my sons had an auto sparky over who was trying to show off with his "knowledge" and started talking about an oscilloscope, expecting to befuddle my son.
However the shoe ended up on the other foot when my son not only knew what he was talking about, but that we had one in the house. Seems the sparky was taken aback - significantly.
.... and I missed it.
Nice score, 0culus.
Meanwhile, on the bench...
mnem
That is either a REALLY tiny engine, or a friggin' HUGE battery!! Is it an early attempt at an EV?
-Pat@Pat You have had the luxury of rarely having to deal with Lucas electrics in cars - 'Mr Lucas - the prince of darkness - who accidentally invented the intermittent windscreen wiper etc. To get a 1960s Lucas containing car started in winter you will need a bigger battery than that! HiHi
😂